OSAID History
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1988 saw Ontario based police, students and teachers meet to form a provincial non – profit organisation with one directive: raise youth awareness about the dangers of driving when impaired. Within that first year a mailing list was established, the newsletter Connections was mailed to all Ontario high schools, the first student reps were in place and the Attorney General, Ian Scott, was the special guest at the SADD Ontario Action Conference with 150 delegates in attendance.
1989 saw the birth of the OSAID name and the establishment of the Board of Directors. The OSAID logo was designed and Matt Evans joined the organisation as coordinator. Manuals were created, the newsletter renamed to Lifeline and OSAID affiliated with the Attorney General’s Countermeasures Conference in Hamilton. The number of delegates rose to 250 at the OSAID Conference, held that year at Aylmer Police College.
Firmly established as an annual event, the OSAID Conference went from strength to strength. Over 325 delegates attended the 2009 Conference held at Sheridan College in Oakville. Just as the Conference has gone from strength to strength, so did the organisation: membership doubled in its first three years to over 300 schools and the numbers have increased over the years. OSAID maintains as one of its goals the aim of 100% involvement. OSAID joined with OCCID ( Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving) in 1991. Scholarships entered the OSAID agenda in 1994 with the Tammy Emerton Memorial Scholarship and the tradition continues. In 2009 the Anna Pyles Memorial Scholarship, which was initiated by the IBAO in 1998, and the AVIVA Pilot Scholarships were awarded.
1990 saw the birth of regional workshops throughout Ontario These continue to the present day. Planned, organised and run by the Regional Representatives, the workshops are a prime example of one of OSAID’s founding principals – peers work with their peers. The students run OSAID.
OSAID’s media campaigns have gained considerable recognition. The 1990 Life of the Party , produced by OSAID was nominated by best short education film at Canada’s Short Film Festival. In 1996 it was selected as one of the top ten videos as a resource for educators by the Driver Education Advisory Committee. Public Service Announcements, went on the TV airwaves in 1991 for six months. The OTIP/RAEO sponsored poster Don’t be a Loser went across the province. 1993 saw the Ministry of Transportation get into the poster campaigning with Santa Rides with Deers, Not Beers. OTIP/ RAEO continued this success with their sponsorship of the Gonna Live For Ever poster in 1997. 1993 saw OSAID joining forces with the Attorney General D/D Countermeasures Office to offer Arrive Alive video dances in Ontario high schools. The 2009 iDrive Road Stories DVD was produced with OSAID input.
Throughout the years, the membership, staff advisor and Ambassador manuals have been developed and refined. These booklets are used by members throughout the province. OSAID resources such as the Call Me Contract and Call Me cards continue to be popular.
Sponsors and Supporters
OSAID is an independent Canadian charity and has enjoyed good and long relationships with community minded organisations over the years: OTIP/ RAEO, CARA Operations Ltd, Nissan, Sate Farm Insurance, The Cooperators Insurance Company, Molson, IBAO, AVIVA Canada, Pilot Insurance, LCBO, The Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services, Transport Canada, MTO, Department of National Health and Welfare, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ministry of Education
Conferences 1988 – held at Blue Mountain, Collingwood 1989 – held at Alymer Police College 1990 – Together We Keep the Beat Alive Conference Chair: Missy Hague, held at Aylmer Police College 1991 – Forever Young Conference Chair Sarah Snelling, held at Aylmer Police College 1992 – Control Conference Chair Casey Lummiss, held at Blue Mountain, Collingwood 1993 – OSAID hosted National Youth Conference (CYAID) Closer to Fine, Conference Chairs Shannon Roberts and George Raptis 1994 – Bring on the Night Conference Chairs Jodie Derosier and Marie- Claude Léger, held at Delta Meadowvale Hotel 1995 -Who Has the Right? Conference Chair Mark Favreau, held at Delta Meadowvale Hotel 1996 – Fight the Power Conference Chair Danielle Dunwoody, held at Delta Meadowvale Hotel 1997 – Keep the Faith Conference Chairs Karen Reilly and Vicki Fortin held at Delta Meadowvale Hotel 1998 – Danger Zone Conference Chair Althea Mackoon, held at Delta Meadowvale Hotel 1999 – Walk the Nation's Capitol, March hosted CYAID Conference, held in Ottawa 2007 – 20 Years Birthday Bash Conference Chairs Allen Keith and Lee Skinner, held at Sheridan College 2008 – Black and White Conference Chairs Allen Ketih and Jessica Renzella, held at Sheridan College 2009 – Masquerade Conference Chair Danika Hawthorne, held at Sheridan College 2010 - Grease Lightning! OSAID Strikes Again! - Conference Chair Jessica Adams, held at Sheridan College 2011 - Superheroes - Conference Chair Erin Dietrich, held at Sheridan College
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